Wire Recall / 'We'll Refund You' Account Drain
A caller claims to refund or recall money for you, then uses screen-sharing or 'correction' steps to move money out of your account.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
Posing as your bank or a company refunding you, the caller says they need to process a refund or recall a wire and asks you to log in or share your screen so they can 'help.' They then move money out, or claim they accidentally refunded too much and pressure you to send the difference back. It is a manipulation to gain access or trick you into transferring your own funds.
What it usually looks like
- A call offering to refund or recall money for you.
- A request to log in to online banking together or share your screen.
- A claim they 'accidentally' sent too much and you must return it.
- Pressure and confusion about balances.
Common warning signs
- Anyone needing screen-share or your login to 'refund' you.
- A story about an overpayment you must send back.
- Urgency and instructions to move your own money.
- Discouragement from calling the bank yourself.
Example wording scammers use
“We need to process your refund — please log in so I can guide you through the reversal.”
“Our system refunded you $5,000 by mistake instead of $500. Please wire back the difference right away.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Access to your online banking.
- You to transfer 'the difference' to them.
- To drain the account while you are confused.
What to do
- Never share your screen or login to receive a refund.
- Hang up and call your bank on the number on your card.
- A legitimate refund does not require you to send money back.
- Check your real balance yourself before doing anything.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your bank's fraud department immediately.
- Change your online-banking credentials.
- Report to ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.